Confessing Christ in Baptism (Young People)

by Librae Jackson, Deacon, The Gospel Church

The seriousness of taking up one's cross, and following King Jesus caused me to have some apprehension regarding the kids - like do they fully understand what it means - a life of surrender to Christ? It's enough of a struggle for us adults! Are they ready? But then the thought came to me - They're ready to think about college & stuff; surely they're ready to think about their souls! They're ready to consider their futures; surely they're ready to consider eternity! That thought encouraged me greatly, as I was reminded that the same Gospel that we live and thrive under is being preached to these smaller ears. Their frames may be smaller, but their souls are no less valuable, vulnerable, sinful or eternal.

I'm very thankful that they are under the sound of the true Gospel. This is the message that saves sinners! They need it just as much as I do! As I'm typing, I'm remembering when Christ said "Suffer the little children to come unto Me." I'm encouraged to pray and live for these little people with more importunity......God may save them!

I also rejoiced in the possibilities of their shining witness to the world. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have some young people who really believed?! Words can't express how splendid that would be! I would be very happy to see these youngsters follow Christ, and not squandering their young years on the world's deceitful, oppressive, temporary vanities. Didn't The Lord save Charles Spurgeon in his youth?

What a great thing to have: life! A couple of scriptural phrases that pop into my mind now are "more abundantly," "newness of life," and "he that has The Son has life."

Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood (John 6:32-68)

“Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (vs54).

Eating and drinking is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We feast on Him like leeches, taking of His blood and life laid down for us (Prov 30:15). We never get to a point that we no longer take from Him, depend upon Him, and receive from Him all that we need. He says, “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53).

This life is the GIFT of God, for all who come to Christ, and it is a life of continual believing.

First, eternal life is God’s gift. He says, “Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven”, so that Christ is GIVEN to all who hear the word (John 6:32). The Son of God, the Savior, the Substitute for sinners is not in a corner hidden away to be earned. The Father, rather, preaches and gives Him freely to us. He says, “For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives LIFE unto the world”, not just a chosen few, but ANYONE who wants salvation may have it through Christ (John 6:33, 51).

Secondly, this gift is received by coming to Christ, and He will not cast out or turn away any. It is written, “All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). It doesn’t matter your sin: come to Christ, and He’ll take you. Sometimes, I hear of things being free or maybe I have a coupon, but it has expired, or I do not meet some qualification. I am rejected ultimately. But, with Christ, it isn’t so. Come to Him sin condemned, sin loving, God hating, and evil to the core, but come to Him TRUSTING Him to be gracious to you by His own blood and life laid down, and you shall get the grace that you need. He will never say to anyone that looks to Him, “I’m sorry. Go away. You’re too vile, came too late, have squandered too many sermons, and you do not please me”. Instead, He will take the sinner and heal him, He’ll take the guilty and cleanse him, and He’ll take the transgressor and change you and me into sons of God.

He will be faithful to us all the way through, though we’ve been faithless to Him. He is the Great God and Savior, the Lord who saves sinners ONLY (John 6:29).

Thirdly, believing is the way that we live (John 6:29, 40). You have no merit, so believe that He’s enough and stand RIGHT with God. You have no strength, so believe that He is why God will help you, and you have the Spirit and strength that you need. You have sinned against the light, but believe that He is MERCIFUL to transgressors, receives you freely, and gives you all that you need for obedience. In all things, BELIEVING God’s GOODNESS to sinners is the way to live, the way that we’re RIGHTEOUS, and the way to inherit and obtain blessings. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ“.

Lastly, only God draws men to Christ - “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life“ (John 6:63). He says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). We are SINNERS who must be TAUGHT of God (vs45). He must teach us our need until we despair of anything in self, and He must TEACH us our salvation in Christ, so that we TRUST Him (God Almighty) in spite of what we are.

For the elect, God will do the teaching - “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father comes unto me“ (vs45). We will feast on Christ all of our lives. We will believe unto the saving of our soul. And, when multitudes walk no more with Him, we will say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God” (vs68-69). The Spirit has given us life, caused us to take this Bread, and He will feed us continually, causing us to NEED and BELIEVE on Christ.